S4: Ep 42 John Brenkus

"Our job on this planet is to perpetuate love."

Today's guest is the host of ESPN's Sports Science show, has won 6-emmies and wrote the New York Times bestseller The Perfection Point.

John Brenkus realized early in his college career that he wanted to be in the entertainment industry. With this as his singular focus - and without any connections in the field - he took a personal oath to learn the ins and outs of of producing entertainment himself... and just started. In his parents' basement.

"I had to have persistence, stubbornness d+ belief to stick around when I was just scraping by. I was just scraping by for a long time."

He had success partnering with the Discovery Channel which led to FOX Sports, National Geographic and others. Today, more than ten years later: He is still doing what he loves.

Producing shows that are positive, entertain and educate.

Today we get to take a lesson on living inspired from a man who works hard to share positive stories in the media AND has gleaned what it takes to make his professional dreams come true.

SHOW NOTES:

• No matter what you hear, consider the source.
• Whatever it is you want to do in life, learn how to do it yourself. This will help you learn what you love and what you are good at. This will help you understand what you can do yourself and who you need to hire.
• The journey everyone takes, the timeframe, is different for everybody. It took us a decade to get our footing.
• We had to have persistence, stubbornness and belief to stick around when we were just scraping by. We were just scraping by for a long time.
• What motivates me and always has is spreading positive energy. I don't want to only entertain but to educate too. Sports Science is an incredibly positive show.
• Now we are moving into putting this same energy into a new podcast, The Brink of Midnight which focuses on the moments in life where everything changes.
• In life, our "outer ring" is unstable. Look for intangible things that fill your outer ring + make you complete.
• Our job here on the planet is to perpetuate love.
• Prayer doesn't change God; it changes you.

JOHN BREANKUS' LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you've ever read? The Great Gatsby is my favorite fiction about a man who has everything except the one thing he wants. My favorite nonfiction is Under the Banner of Heaven. It gives you a good look at how religions evolve.

2. Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do with it?

3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? My prayer book my mother gave me when I was 7-year-old for my first holy communion. It travels with me everywhere I go that I put on my night stand no matter if I'm at home or traveling.

4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? I'd want one person on each side! Thomas Jefferson, how in the world did you guys have the vision that the country would be what it has become. Pope John Paul II, to talk about how he spread the message of love for all.

5. What is the best advice you've ever received? Stephen Soderberg telling me: Do everything yourself. That really sunk in for me. To learn, you gotta figure it out somehow. Learn the whole process.

From my wife: Take three breaths look at the positive side. Although you are upset, look at all the things you have to be grateful for an realize the thing that is making you upset at this moment is going to dwindle.

6. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at age 20? I was rash and bold. I was unprepared for really respecting who really know what they are doing. Be willing to give up control on something because you know you are putting it in good hands. I am so much better at delegating now.

7. It's been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? Good is a word you use when something is not great and he strived to be great.

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I can't wait to see you here next Thursday! Today is your day. Live Inspired.

Live Inspired with John everyday on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest and get his Monday Motivation email: www.JohnOLearyInspires.com/Monday-Morning